U.S. patent number 8,451,380 [Application Number 11/689,982] was granted by the patent office on 2013-05-28 for scheme for determining the locations and timing of advertisements and other insertions in media.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Gary M. Zalewski. Invention is credited to Gary M. Zalewski.
United States Patent |
8,451,380 |
Zalewski |
May 28, 2013 |
Scheme for determining the locations and timing of advertisements
and other insertions in media
Abstract
A method for use with content includes analyzing a sequence of
frames of the content, determining whether an area exists in a
scene depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content
such as advertising can be inserted without obstructing activity in
the scene, for any such area, determining an amount of time that
the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played,
and for any such area, determining a size of the area. A storage
medium storing a computer program for causing a processor based
system to execute these steps and an apparatus for use with content
are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Zalewski; Gary M. (Oakland,
CA) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Zalewski; Gary M. |
Oakland |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Sony Computer Entertainment America
LLC (Foster City, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
39774301 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/689,982 |
Filed: |
March 22, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080231751 A1 |
Sep 25, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/588; 725/36;
348/587; 348/586; 725/32; 725/136; 725/135; 348/578;
375/240.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N
21/4307 (20130101); H04N 21/812 (20130101); H04N
21/8583 (20130101); H04N 21/8586 (20130101); H04N
21/4312 (20130101); H04N 21/44012 (20130101); H04N
21/44008 (20130101); H04N 21/4316 (20130101); H04N
5/147 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04N
5/93 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;725/135-136,32-36
;375/240.01 ;705/37,14.41-14.71 ;726/32-36 ;348/586-588,578 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1168210 |
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Jan 2002 |
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EP |
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1416727 |
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May 2004 |
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Sep 2004 |
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EP |
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Oct 2004 |
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JP |
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97/03517 |
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Jan 1997 |
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WO |
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2005/076598 |
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Aug 2005 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Nalven; Andrew L.
Assistant Examiner: Mehrmanesh; Amir
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery,
LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for use with content, comprising: analyzing a sequence
of frames of the content; determining whether an area exists in a
scene depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content
can be inserted without obstructing activity in the scene; for any
such area, determining an amount of time that the area is available
when the sequence of frames is being played; for any such area,
determining a size of the area; selecting the additional content
based at least in part on the determined size of the area and an
analysis of the size of the area and the amount of time that the
area is available to determine between displaying only one
advertisement and simultaneously displaying a plurality of small
advertisements in the area; and in response to determining to
simultaneously display a plurality of small advertisements, causing
the plurality of small advertisements to simultaneously display in
the area in the scene.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of
determining whether an area exists comprises: identifying areas in
the scene having no activity.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the step of
determining whether an area exists comprises: identifying areas in
the scene having activity.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the area comprises
a fixed object in the scene.
5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sequence of
frames comprises a representation of video shot by a fixed
camera.
6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sequence of
frames comprises a representation of video shot by a moving
camera.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
inserting the additional content into the area.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
selecting the additional content from a database based at least in
part on the determined amount of time that the area is
available.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the additional
content comprises an advertisement.
10. A non-transitory storage medium storing a computer program
executable by a processor based system, the computer program
causing the processor based system to execute steps comprising:
analyzing a sequence of frames of content; determining whether an
area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where
additional content can be inserted without obstructing activity in
the scene; for any such area, determining an amount of time that
the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played;
for any such area, determining a size of the area; selecting the
additional content based at least in part on the determined size of
the area and an analysis of the size of the area and the amount of
time that the area is available to determine between displaying
only one advertisement simultaneously displaying a plurality of
small advertisements in the area; and in response to determining to
simultaneously display a plurality of small advertisements, causing
the plurality of small advertisements to simultaneously display in
the area in the scene.
11. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step
of determining whether an area exists comprises: identifying areas
in the scene having no activity.
12. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the step
of determining whether an area exists comprises: identifying areas
in the scene having activity.
13. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the area
comprises a fixed object in the scene.
14. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the
sequence of frames comprises a representation of video shot by a
fixed camera.
15. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the
sequence of frames comprises a representation of video shot by a
moving camera.
16. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, further
comprising: inserting the additional content into the area.
17. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, further
comprising: selecting the additional content from a database based
at least in part on the determined amount of time that the area is
available.
18. A storage medium in accordance with claim 10, wherein the
additional content comprises an advertisement.
19. An apparatus for use with content, comprising: a processor
based system that is configured to analyze a sequence of frames of
the content and determine whether an area exists in a scene
depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content can be
inserted without obstructing activity in the scene; wherein for any
such area, the processor based system is further configured to
determine an amount of time that the area is available when the
sequence of frames is being played and determine a size of the
area; wherein the processor based system is further configured to
select the additional content based at least in part on the
determined size of the area and an analysis of the size of the area
and the amount of time that the area is available to determine
between displaying only one advertisement and simultaneously
displaying a plurality of small advertisements in the area; and
wherein, in response to determining to simultaneously display a
plurality of small advertisements, the processor based system
causes the plurality of small advertisements to simultaneously
display in the area in the scene.
20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor
based system is further configured to identify areas in the scene
having no activity.
21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor
based system is further configured to identify areas in the scene
having activity.
22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the area
comprises a fixed object in the scene.
23. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the sequence
of frames comprises a representation of video shot by a fixed
camera.
24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the sequence
of frames comprises a representation of video shot by a moving
camera.
25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor
based system is further configured to insert the additional content
into the area.
26. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor
based system is further configured to select the additional content
from a database based at least in part on the determined amount of
time that the area is available.
27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the
additional content comprises an advertisement.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to digital video
processing, and more specifically to digital insertion of images
and video in program content.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
One traditional form of advertising is the television commercial.
Such television commercials typically consist of brief advertising
spots that range in length from a few seconds to several minutes.
The commercials appear between shows and interrupt the shows at
regular intervals. The goal of advertisers is to keep the viewer's
attention focused on the commercial, but often times the viewer
will change the channel during the commercial to avoid watching the
commercial.
Another way that viewers have avoided television commercials is by
using digital video recorders (DVRs). With a DVR a person can
record a show and then fast forward through the commercials during
playback. Other media players are expected to provide viewers with
even greater ability to track and skip commercials.
It is with respect to these and other background information
factors, including the growth and popularity of user-created video
services such as YouTube.RTM., and the need to insert advertising
in such media, that the present invention has evolved.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment provides a method for use with content, comprising:
analyzing a sequence of frames of the content; determining whether
an area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where
additional content can be inserted without obstructing activity in
the scene; for any such area, determining an amount of time that
the area is available when the sequence of frames is being played;
and for any such area, determining a size of the area.
Another embodiment provides a storage medium storing a computer
program executable by a processor based system, the computer
program causing the processor based system to execute steps
comprising: analyzing a sequence of frames of content; determining
whether an area exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of
frames where additional content can be inserted without obstructing
activity in the scene; for any such area, determining an amount of
time that the area is available when the sequence of frames is
being played; and for any such area, determining a size of the
area.
Another embodiment provides an apparatus for use with content,
comprising: a processor based system that is configured to analyze
a sequence of frames of the content and determine whether an area
exists in a scene depicted by the sequence of frames where
additional content can be inserted without obstructing activity in
the scene; wherein for any such area, the processor based system is
further configured to determine an amount of time that the area is
available when the sequence of frames is being played and determine
a size of the area.
A better understanding of the features and advantages of various
embodiments of the present invention will be obtained by reference
to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings
which set forth an illustrative embodiment in which principles of
embodiments of the invention are utilized.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of embodiments
of the present invention will be more apparent from the following
more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with
the following drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for use with content
in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B are screen shots illustrating an example
application of the method of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are screen shots illustrating another example
application of the method of FIG. 1 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a processor based system
that may be used to run, implement and/or execute the methods
and/or techniques shown and described herein in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
When viewers avoid traditional television commercials as described
above, the advertisers' messages are not received by the viewers,
which is disadvantageous. Because of such disadvantages,
embodiments of the present invention relate to the insertion of
advertisements or other content into the television show or other
program itself.
Some of the embodiments of the present invention involve an
automated method for determining the timing and position of
advertisements or other insertions to be placed in content. Such
content may include any type of content, such as for example
television shows, movies, videos, web pages, games, etc. In some
embodiments, the method may operate by analyzing a sequence of
video frames over time to determine clean, uncluttered, or other
areas or regions in the media where the activity in the scene is
not obstructed by a zone occupied by an advertisement overlay.
For example, referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a method 100
that operates in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention. The method 100, which may be used with any type of
content, begins in step 102 in which a sequence of frames of the
content is analyzed. By way of example, video analysis of the
sequence of video frames may be used to determine appropriate
locations to deposit advertisements or other graphics into the
media. In some embodiments, such analysis may be automatically
conducted on a frame-by-frame basis.
In step 104, it is determined whether an area exists in a scene
depicted by the sequence of frames where additional content can be
inserted without obstructing activity in the scene. In some
embodiments this may be done by going through the video
frame-by-frame to identify where movement is happening or regions
of voids. For example, there may be people and action happening on
one side of the screen, but no movement on the other side of
screen. The area of no movement may be an appropriate place to
insert an advertisement or other additional content.
In step 106, for any area identified as appropriate for receiving
additional content, the amount of time that the area is available
when the sequence of frames is being played is determined. And in
step 108, the size of any identified area is determined. As such, a
system implementing this method may determine whether or not the
region of no activity is large enough to fit an advertisement.
The method 100 may be performed automatically by any type of
computer or processor based system. Such a system may conduct a
frame-by-frame analysis over time to track the action in the scenes
and mark the blocks of video that are appropriate for the insertion
of advertisements or other images or content. In some embodiments,
the frame-by-frame analysis may be conducted by image analysis
software.
Thus, in some embodiments a system looks at the frames in the video
and identifies the locations in the video where there is activity
and where there is no activity. In a simple scenario the camera is
fixed and the actors are moving. That is, the sequence of frames
comprises a representation of video shot by a fixed camera. In a
more complex scenario, the camera is moving or panning across the
scene, which includes fixed objects, as well as moving objects.
That is, the sequence of frames comprises a representation of video
shot by a moving camera.
FIG. 2A illustrates an example of the fixed camera scenario. In
this example the frame boarder 202 represents each frame in the
sequence of frames because the camera is fixed. If two children
204, 206 are playing with a soccer ball 208 on the right side of
the screen, an advertisement may be placed on the other side of the
screen so as not to obstruct the view of the children playing with
the soccer ball. This way, an advertisement may be deposited in the
scene so as not to obstruct a view of the moving objects or
activity, i.e. the children 204, 206 playing with the ball 208.
FIG. 2B illustrates an advertisement 212 for "Best Soda" that has
been inserted into the scene. Because the two children 204, 206 are
playing with the soccer ball 208 are still visible, the activity in
connection with the focus of the video has not be obstructed by the
advertisement 212. That is, the primary or target or moving objects
in the scene are not obstructed by the advertisement 212.
In some embodiments, in analyzing the frames the system may mark a
frame or part of a frame as not able to receive an advertisement
because there is too much movement. Such frames or portions of
frames may be referred to herein as too "dirty." Thus, in the
present example the system may block out the portions of the frames
associated with the children 204, 206 playing with the soccer ball
208 so that those spaces are not used for the placement of
advertisements or other insertions.
As another example, all of the actors and movement in a certain
scene may be located on the left side of the screen. As such, the
system may block out the portions of the frames corresponding to
the actors on the left side of the screen and may indicate that
advertisements cannot be placed there. That is, advertisements
cannot be placed on the left side of the screen because there are
people moving and things are happening on the left side of the
screen. Meanwhile, however, the right side of the screen may be
clean, and it may have been clean for a certain period of time that
may be sufficient for the placing of an advertisement.
In some embodiments, scenes may contain metadata that characterize
information about the frames and including the history and momentum
of objects moving in the frames, and some embodiments of the
present invention may utilize such metadata to determine the
potential regions in which content, including advertisements, may
be placed in the scene.
In some embodiments, the step of determining if a frame is "dirty"
or if a frame region is "dirty" may be performed by analyzing the
frame data across one or more frames. Fixed or variable thresholds
may be used in the determination of objects of interest and regions
of interest. In some embodiments the system may also encode or
create metadata as mentioned above for enabling playback system
insertion of content.
FIG. 3A illustrates an example of the moving camera scenario. In
this example the frame boarders 302, 304, 306 represent three of
the frames in the sequence of frames as the camera moves. Because
the camera is moving or panning across the scene, a fixed object
such as a trash can 308 will appear to be slowly sliding over the
background of the scene. The trash can 308 has this appearance
because it is positioned toward the right side of frame 302, near
the center of frame 304, and then towards the left side of frame
306. With the camera slowly panning across the set, and the objects
in the scene are fixed on the set, each frame looks dirty because
there is constant movement.
However, by reviewing the frames of the video, the system may
determine that the camera is moving, the people within the scene
are moving, but that the trash can 308 is fixed. As such, a space
on the trash can 308 may be free to use for an advertisement or
other image or graphics because the trash can itself is largely
fixed.
FIG. 3B illustrates an advertisement 312 for "Town Realty" that has
been inserted into the scene on the trash can 308. In this example,
the trash can 308 comprises an area in the scene where additional
content can be inserted without obstructing activity in the scene.
Thus, in some embodiments in the scenario where the camera is
moving or panning, the system may identify the fixed objects, and
then identify how an advertisement may be overlaid onto the fixed
objects. In some embodiments, this may be done by moving a fulcrum
along the frame to filter out the fixed objects from the moving
objects. Namely, the system may slide the point of perspective as
to where the reference elements are located within a frame so that
the camera movements can be filtered out from the actual actors
moving in the scene.
As mentioned above, the method 100 (FIG. 1) includes step 106 for
determining the amount of time that the area is available when the
sequence of frames is being played, and step 108 for determining
the size of the area. For example, a system may determine that the
right side of the screen may be free for a certain amount of time,
and it may be free to a certain dimension for that amount time.
This information may be important for choosing an advertisement
because that dimension may be capable of taking an advertisement
with a certain maximum size. And furthermore, that dimension may
only be available for a certain amount of time, such as for example
2, 5, 15, 20, etc. seconds.
In some embodiments, the system may search the frames in the
sequence of frames for a large enough region or space to hold an
advertisement of a certain size. The system may also search for a
long enough length of time in the video to place a certain
advertisement. For example, a certain advertisement may need 15
seconds of free and clear region for placement of the
advertisement. The system may do this by determining how long each
empty region in the video will last.
In some embodiments, the system may use the determined time and
size information to look across a database of advertisements and
select an advertisement that is appropriate for the available
dimensions and available amount of time. Thus, in some embodiments
there is a profiling of video sequences, and then there is a
database look-up for an advertisement based on how much time and
space is available for the advertisement. For example, in some
embodiments a system may determine how much time is available in
the video for an occlusion free zone. Then, the database look-up
determines whether or not the size of occlusion free zone and the
time available meet the requirements for any advertisements that
are in the database.
Other factors may or may not be used in choosing the specific
advertisement. For example, in some embodiments, the system may
simply choose the next advertisement that meets the maximum time
available and maximum size available.
Or, in some embodiments the system may choose an advertisement that
maximizes the revenue that can be generated from selling the
advertisement space. Various different sizes and types of
advertisements may maximize the dollar return for the available
advertisement space. For example, maximum revenue may be generated
by filling the space with several smaller advertisements, or
filling the space with one large advertisement. In some
embodiments, the system may analyze the space and time available to
maximize the dollar revenue based upon those specifications.
In some embodiments, the system may use methods for ordering the
selection of the advertisements to meet economic business models.
For example, the system may use a priority scheme for selecting the
advertisements. As another example, several small advertisements
may be used to optimize the available space, which may generate
more revenue than one large advertisement. With any such scenario
the system may still determine whether or not the next chosen
advertisement meets the determined time and size
specifications.
Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide methods for
determining the location and timing of advertisements and other
content placed in media. Embodiments of the present invention may
be used to automatically find blank spaces or voids in video into
which advertisements or other content may be inserted. That is, a
video may be run through a process according to an embodiment of
the present intention to automatically find the blank spaces or
voids in the video into which advertisements may be inserted. For
example, a ten second clip of video may include two seconds of
blank or black screen. In this example, the whole screen may be
available for an advertisement for two seconds. Thus,
twenty-percent of the ten second video may be populated with
advertisements or other content.
It should be well understood that other types of content and not
just advertisements may be inserted into the blank spaces or voids.
For example, other type of graphics, images, pictures, etc. may
comprise the additional content that may be inserted into the areas
where additional content can be inserted without obstructing
activity in the scene.
The methods and techniques described herein may be utilized,
implemented and/or run on many different types of systems,
computers, graphics workstations, televisions, entertainment
systems, video game systems, DVD players, DVRs, media players, home
servers, video game consoles, and the like. Referring to FIG. 4,
there is illustrated a system 400 that may be used for any such
implementations. One or more components of the system 400 may be
used for implementing any system mentioned above. However, the use
of the system 400 or any portion thereof is certainly not
required.
By way of example, the system 400 may include, but is not required
to include, a central processing unit (CPU) 402, a graphics
processing unit (GPU) 404, digital differential analysis (DDA)
hardware 406, a random access memory (RAM) 408, and a mass storage
unit 410, such as a disk drive. The system 400 may be coupled to,
or integrated with, a display 412, such as for example any type of
display, including any of the types of displays mentioned herein.
The system 400 comprises an example of a processor based
system.
The CPU 402 and/or GPU 404 may be used to execute or assist in
executing the steps of the methods and techniques described herein,
and various program content and images may be rendered on the
display 412. Removable storage media 414 may optionally be used
with the mass storage unit 410, which may be used for storing code
that implements the methods and techniques described herein.
However, any of the storage devices, such as the RAM 408 or mass
storage unit 410, may be used for storing such code. Furthermore,
any of the storage devices, such as the RAM 408 or mass storage
unit 410, may be used for storing the database described above.
Either all or a portion of the system 400 may be embodied in any
type of device, such as for example a computer, workstation,
television, video game console or system, or any other type of
device, including any type of device mentioned herein.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of
specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous
modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled
in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set
forth in the claims.
* * * * *
References